Evacuated after Oregon fire, some residents return

Some residents of the 275 homes evacuated in the path of a wind-drive wildfire in Oregon's Columbia Gorge have been allowed to return.

Fire spokeswoman Tina O'Donnell said Thursday that the danger to the community of Rowena overlooking the Columbia River about 75 miles east of Portland had eased and structural fire teams were cutting brush and trees to create safe zones around homes.

There was no immediate count of homes where residents were allowed to return.

The Rowena fire started Tuesday evening in brush, and by Thursday, had grown to 4.1 square miles in steep terrain 6 miles east of The Dalles. The cause remains under investigation. Old Highway 30 remained closed in the fire area.